Abstract: An improved safety actuator for an AK-47 firearm. The improved actuator utilizes a conventional receiver actuator modified to include a grip arm. The internal mechanism of the improved actuator and the conventional actuator are identical. This allows replacement of the conventional actuator with an improved actuator during field stripping, with no gun smithing. A grip arm depends from the receiver actuator, preferably from the receiver actuator's pivot point. The grip arm is aligned with the rifle's pistol grip. The shooter can control the safety actuator by squeezing the grip arm onto the pistol grip with his dominant hand. Thus, the safety may be moved from a safe position to a fire position without removing either hand from a sound firing position. The grip arm may be provided with a push bar to facilitate use of the dominant thumb to return the safety actuator to a safe position.